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Confederate South Carolina Morse Carbine Serial number 751. .54 caliber. This is a fine example of a Type III Morse carbine as produced in Greeneville, South Carolina during the war. The breech block has a visible repair where it was broken near the hinge and brazed. It has been renumbered to match the gun.

It is fully functional and other than the repaired breech block is all original with the exception of the cleaning jag in the butt plate. Brass has a nice patina and all metal parts smooth. Stocks are excellent and well fit.

Fine Newly Discovered Confederate Griswold Revolver. Serial number 2870. All matching all original. This one was brought into a modern gun show in Myrtle Beach, SC many years ago and traded for a 'shooter'. Unfortunately provenance or collection history was not recorded when it was traded.

The revolver has really nice lines with sharp edges, strong traces of blue in loading lever well, sharp bore, great action. Cylinder is sharp with safety pins and visiblecryptic which is the first mark to wear away of Griswolds. Grips are excellent with the exception of some tacking marks. 100% original and authentic.

Secondary number "00" is found on all parts normally numbered including wedge and bottom of grip.

Serial Number: 1610. Caliber 36. There were only 18 known early model Rigdon & Ansleys with the "AUGUSTA, GA CSA" address until this superior example was just discovered in Sparta, GA in August of 2018 where it had been in the same family since 1953. It is now the 19th known example with this marking and the marking is the finest observed to date. The highest known serial number with this marking is "1689" and lowest is “1512”. All serial numbers on this revolver are stamped with the correct small number dies. It is also to be noted that the number "1" is a broken die which became broken at pistol #1237, continuing to be used through the small-die run to R&A pistol #1900, or thereabouts.

This gun has cryptic "J" stamped rear of serial number on center of trigger guard at interface of triggerbow. Gun appears all original with matching serial numbers "1610" that are found on barrel housing, latch, frame, arbor, cylinder, backstrap, trigger guard and wedge. The grips were not removed as so well fit with associated screws apparently not being turned in a long time. The loading arm is numbered “1511” which appears to be a factory error as 1st and 3rd digits both are “1”. The loading arm has clearly always been with this revolver. Top barrel flat is inspected "CSA" just rear of the "AUGUSTA, GA" barrel marking.

Sometime in late November or early December of 1862, the firm of Leech & Rigdon, then located in Columbus, Mississippi, contracted with the Confederate Government to manufacture percussion revolvers of the Colt patent design, though contract was not signed for 1500 guns until firm settled in Greensboro, GA. With Union troops threatening the Columbus area, Leech & Rigdon moved its operation (its third move) to Greensboro, Georgia, where they began turning out revolvers in March of 1863. Approximately 1000 revolvers were produced at Greensboro, before it was again necessary to move because of Yankee pressure in the area. The Leech & Rigdon partnership split up in January of 1864, and Rigdon took all the gun-making machinery with him, moved to Augusta, Georgia (the fourth and last move) forming a new partnership with Jesse Ansley. Rigdon & Ansley assumed the responsibility of completing the original Leech & Rigdon contract, by manufacturing the remaining 500 revolvers of that model, then going on with a new contract to furnish 1500 Rigdon & Ansley revolvers.

While the Rigdon & Ansley revolvers were practically identical in design to the Leech & Rigdons, there were some changes made which were considered improvements at the time. The most obvious change was the addition of six (6) more cylinder stops on the Rigdon & Ansley, and the omission of the locking pins on the rear shoulders of the cylinder. This was thought to be a safety improvement in that it allowed the cylinder to be locked in place with the hammer resting between the percussion nipples. An additional change was the milling-out of a groove in the recoil shield, which now came to be called a "cap release groove", which allowed spent percussion caps an easier exit from the frame, so that they were expelled via the groove at the right top side of the recoil shields as the cylinder rotated to the right in the firing and re-cocking procedure, after each round was fired. This "cap release groove" is found on this revolver along with the employment of a "Colt-type" loading lever latching assembly, rather than Leech & Rigdon ball and pin type catches.

Rigdon- Ansley revolvers range in SN 1490 to 2373, about 120 Rigdon Ansleys of all configurations survive as of this date.

This revolver is in just as found condition. Generous traces of finish remain on the barrel and barrel housing with the balance plum. Cylinder has a nice blue color with some minor battering marks. Brass has a wonderful dark mustard patina. Grips retain about 70-80% original varnish, they most likely have penciled serial number in the backstrap channel. But were not removed as they fit perfect and the screws have not been disturbed. The grips have the best 'WH' inspectors cartouche that I've ever seen.

This is a very good complete Confederate revolver, 100% original and authentic. Leech & Rigdon has a colorful history starting their manufacturing operations in Memphis, Tennessee, being chased by advancing Union troops moving first to Columbus, Mississippi, and then to Greensboro, Georgia, where this particular gun was made.

Leech & Rigdon had a contract with the Confederate Government for the manufacture of 1500 revolvers (on the Colt’s patent) so, at Greensboro, they continued to manufacture pistols in fulfillment of that contract. “Records from the Augusta Arsenal indicate that from September of 1863 to March of 1864, some 903 revolvers were received from Leech & Rigdon, 814 of which were issued. Serial number 571, was no doubt, one of the 814 issued”. Provenance: Ex-Damon Mills; Jim Green Collection, 2003.

CONDITION: Gun overall is very good for a surviving Confederate revolver with sharp fairly crisp edges though overall metal is finely pitted, iron a matching brown/gray. Matching serial numbers are found on barrel, frame, trigger guard, backstrap, cylinder, loading assembly, loading lever catch, cylinder pin, and wedge. Iron frames on Leech & Rigdon often show casting flaws however this examples frame is quite smooth with only the tiniest flaws. A cryptic “N” is found on both sides of trigger bow. “LEECH & RIGDON CSA” markings are found on top barrel flat, though several letters are light as can be seen in photos. Brass is fairly smooth with several large dents in butt with a light mustard colored patina. Grips are sound, solid and well fit with heavy tacking marks on butts. Gun is mechanically fine with crisp well defined rifling in bore.

Scarce First Model Martial Henry Model 1860 Rifle. Serial number 3063. Caliber .44 rim fire Henry. Standard Henry rifle with 24-1/4″ octagonal barrel, integral magazine tube and early 1st type German silver front sight blade with round top and 2nd type 900 yard Henry ladder rear sight without slide stop screw. Right forward side of frame has the inspector initials “HH” and correspondingly on the right barrel flat at the receiver the inspector, “CGC”. Buttstock with straight grip and early style brass buttplate with round heel and large trap for the accompanying 4-piece hickory rod. Right side of buttstock is inlaid with a 5-point brass star secured with a single nail through the center. Right wrist of buttstock shows the outline of a cartouche visible under strong light. Right heel of buttplate is marked with a tiny “C” inspector mark with corresponding “C” adjacent on the wood.

Serial number was observed in the usual place on top flat of barrel between rear sight & frame and on left side of the lower tang under the wood as well as in the top tang channel of buttstock and inside toe of buttplate. The 2 buttplate screws are matching numbered to the rifle. The 3 receiver screws, although unnumbered are original Henry style screws and probably original to this rifle. Left top front side of receiver has a small plugged hole which likely was installed for ease of access to change the extractor which was a weak point on the Henry rifle.

Given the overall condition, along with the “Texas star” in the buttstock, the argument can be made that this probably was a Confederate captured rifle during the Civil War and saw extensive hard service thereafter, both during the war and on the American frontier. There were a total of 1,731 Henry rifles purchased by the US Military, of which only about 800 were the Type-1 as found here, the majority of which were used to arm the 3rd Regiment Veteran Volunteers. This unit was initially intended to act as “shock troops”, but were primarily used for guard and picket duty around Washington, D.C. They did have a few small engagements just toward the end of the war and then were absorbed into the 2nd Maine Cavalry until the war was over. These veteran volunteers, as part of their enlistment agreement with honorable service were allowed to retain their arms and accoutrements at their expiration of service. Apparently the majority of those soldiers took advantage of this provision and took their Henry rifles home with them.

Just as found condition, all matching. Barrel & magazine retain a mostly smooth brown patina with patches of pitting. Receiver & side plates show numerous nicks & dings with light scratches and retains a dark brown untouched brass patina. Stock is sound showing a “Henry bump” on the left side with numerous light nicks & scratches and retains a very old, dark finish. Mechanics are balky on closing, otherwise they are fine. Strong bore with moderate to heavy pitting and a couple of rings about mid-point. Cleaning rod is original and in fine condition..